Picture frame assembly

ABSTRACT

A picture frame assembly. The assembly has a transparent cover, and a backboard. The frame has a front and a rear. The transparent cover and the backboard are positioned within the frame. The assembly having a front face and a rear face. The backboard is positioned in proximity to the rear face of the assembly. The transparent cover is positioned in proximity to the front face of the assembly. The backboard is hingedly connected to the frame along an edge thereof. The backboard is adapted to being opened along the edge to reveal a cavity within the frame into which an artwork can be inserted or from which an artwork can be removed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a picture frame assembly. The present invention further relates to a picture frame assembly providing ready insertion and removal of depicted material.

2. Description of the Related Art

Artwork is commonly presented or displayed in picture frames. Conventional picture frames have been configured to receive artwork through the back or rear side and braced with a backboard. The frame may then be permanently sealed at the backboard, such as with adhesives or mechanical fasteners, e.g., tacks or staples, or, alternately, be temporarily/removably sealed with actuatable/removable mechanical fasteners.

Picture frames that can be temporarily/removably sealed to allow artwork to be easily inserted or removed are useful in art shows and expositions. Shows and expositions in schools or those involving children's artwork typically require frequent changing of artwork within picture frames.

It would be desirable to have a picture frame that afforded easy and frequent removal and insertion of artwork.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is a picture frame assembly. The assembly has a transparent cover, and a backboard. The assembly having a front face and a rear face. The transparent cover and the backboard are positioned within the frame. The backboard is positioned in proximity to the rear face of the assembly. The transparent cover is positioned in proximity to the front face of the assembly. The backboard is hingedly connected to the frame along an edge thereof. The backboard is adapted to being opened along the edge to reveal a cavity within the frame into which an artwork can be inserted or from which an artwork can be removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a frame assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1 with the backboard open.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1 with artwork therein and the backboard closed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective rear view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective front view of the frame assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a picture frame assembly according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and is generally referenced by the numeral 10. Assembly 10 has a frame 12, a border 13, a transparent cover 14, and a backboard 16. Assembly 10 has a front face 18 and a rear face 20. Transparent cover 14 and backboard 16 are positioned within frame 12. Backboard 16 is positioned in proximity to rear face 20 of assembly 10. Transparent cover 14 is positioned in proximity to front face 20 of frame 12. It will be apparent that transparent cover 14 can take any form known in the art, such as transparent sheet glass or sheet plastic. Border 13 is an optional, decorative feature in assembly 10 and is not critical to the present invention. Backboard 16 is affixed/connected to frame 12 at hinges 22 and 24 along an edge 26 thereof. It will be apparent that hinges can vary in number and type. Metal door-type hinges are preferred, but hinges made of pliable plastic or fabric are also useful (not shown). For instance, a hinge can be made of a single layer of plastic or fabric adhered to and extending across from the frame and the backboard (not shown). Backboard 16 is adapted to being opened along edge 26 to reveal a cavity 28 within frame 12 into which an artwork can be inserted or from which artwork can be removed. A cavity may be relatively thin, i.e., of depth sufficient to receive and display sheet-like artwork, such as a photograph, drawing, or canvas. A cavity may also be relatively thick, i.e., of depth sufficient to receive and display artwork of three-dimensional depth, such as wreaths, lattices, seals, and sheet-like artwork having raised or pronounced surfaces or features. Typically, the depth of a cavity wall ranges from about 1 millimeter to about 50 millimeters, although such depth is not critical to the present invention. Backboard 16 has a means thereon or therein by which it can be grasped by a finger(s) in order to open backboard 16 along hinges 22 and 24.

As shown in FIG. 3, the means in the depicted embodiment takes the form of a ribbon loop 34 affixed to backboard 16, which can be grasped by one or more fingers 32. Other grasping means include, for example, indentations, knobs, and raised ridges or surfaces (not shown). Backboard 16 has a message window 36 through which artwork 30 or a portion thereof can be viewed. FIG. 4 shows indicia in window 36 in the form of lettering 37, when an artwork 30 has been inserted in assembly 10. Lettering 37 appears in the reverse or rear face of artwork 30. Frame 12 has one or more actuatable/removable mechanical fasteners, which in assembly 10 takes the form of pivot clips 36, 38, and 40. Pivot clips 36, 38, and 40 are preferably hinges 22 and 24 and form at triangle to hold backboard 16 flush in place. Pivot clips 36, 38, and 40 are freely rotatable over about 180 degrees so as to secure or unsecure backboard 16 depending on whether backboard 16 is being opened or closed. Frame 12 also has optional hanging brackets 42 and 44, which can used to hang assembly 10 on a wall. Brackets 42 and 44 are positioned on frame 12 such that assembly 10 can be hung on a wall in landscape or portrait style. Preferably, backboard 16 and all features on the exposed surface of backboard 16, such as pivot clips 36, 38, and 40, are recessed within frame 12 so that they do not contact any adjacent frame assemblies that may be stacked together during storage or shipping.

The preferred recessed position of backboard 16 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 as being defined by the relative depth of sidewalls 15 of frame 12. Sidewalls 15 extend from one side of frame 12 to the other and are wide enough to provide a sufficient degree of recess for backboard 16 such that features of the exposed surface thereof are protected during storage and shipping.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A picture frame assembly, comprising: a frame, a transparent cover, and a backboard, the frame having a front and a rear, the transparent cover and the backboard being positioned within the frame, the assembly having a front face and a rear face, the backboard being positioned in proximity to the rear face of the assembly, the transparent cover being positioned in proximity to the front face of the assembly, the backboard being hingedly connected to the frame along an edge thereof, the backboard being adapted to being opened along the edge to reveal a cavity within the frame into which an artwork can be inserted or from which an artwork can be removed.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the backboard has a means thereon or therein by which the backboard can be grasped by a finger(s) in order to open it.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the means takes the form of a ribbon loop affixed to the backboard.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the backboard has a message window through which the artwork or a portion thereof can be viewed.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the backboard has one or more actuatable/removable mechanical fasteners.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more actuatable/removable mechanical fasteners is one or more pivot clips.
 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the backboard has one or more hanging brackets, the hanging brackets being adapted to hold the assembly in place on a wall.
 8. The assembly of claim 7, wherein the backboard has two hanging brackets, wherein the assembly has two pairs of parallel frame segments, wherein one hanging bracket in centered along the length of one segment from one pair of parallel frame segments and the other bracket in centered along the length of one segment from the other one pair of parallel frame segments.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the transparent cover is sheet glass. 